High Wind in Madison River Valley, Montana

Montana DOT sensor at Norris Hill measured sustained winds, averaged over an hour, of 40 mph.

A period of gusty winds and locally heavy snow spanned two months (January and February) associated with an upper level low the dug southward from the Gulf of Alaska toward Vancouver Island. Ahead of the system a period of strong westerly to southwesterly mid level flow set the stage for a period of gusty winds across commonly windy areas over the plains (Rocky Mountain Front, MT200 corridor), in addition to the Madison River Valley and adjacent areas. Areas of snow developed between two separate waves within the digging trough, which brought a localized heavy snow report along the Southern Rocky Mountain Front.